English summary: CHILDREN'S POSTOPERATIVE PAIN RELIEF: IMAGERY TRIP CD AS AN INTERVENTION

Background

Due to the complex nature of pain, evidence-based knowledge is needed about the efficacy of non-pharmacological pain relieving methods combined with pain medication.

Methods

This experimental study investigated the efficacy of imagery and relaxation in the management of pediatric patients' postoperative pain. The data were collected from 60 hospitalized children (aged 8-12 years), who had undergone surgery in a Finnish university hospital (Oulu), and their primary nurses. An investigator-developed questionnaire was used, which included a VAS as an assessment tool. The intensity of pain was assessed in three phases: before (phase 1), immediately after (phase 2), and one hour after (phase 3) the intervention or standard care. An imagery trip CD was used as the intervention.

Results

Based on the differences in the VAS pain scores in phases 1 and 2, children in the experimental group assessed themselves as having significantly less pain (p<0.001) than children in the control group (p=0.301). Type of operation and time of surgical procedure were the demographic variables related to pain intensity in the children. The nurses tended to underestimate the pediatric patients' pain.

Conclusions

The imagery trip CD can be used to reduce children's postoperative pain.